Amazon dropped support for a swathe of older Kindle models last month, leaving owners unable to buy or download new eBooks from the Kindle store. Given that the entire point of owning an e-reader is to read books on its distraction-free e-ink screen, the decision transforms these 12x Kindle models into expensive paperweights.
Losing software support means you'll no longer receive important bug fixes or new features. But it also means performing a factory reset or deregistering your device will leave the device unusable, Amazon has cautioned.
If you want to keep hold of your current Kindle and still read eBooks, there is a solution.
Kindle users have turned to a process known as "jailbreaking" to give devices a new lease of life and continue reading new books. For those who don't know, "jailbreaking" refers to the process of exploiting a flaw in the software to strip away manufacturer or developer restrictions on a locked-down device. In this case, that means unlocking the ability to download and read new eBooks again.
But wait — before you rush in, there are some significant risks you should understand. Jailbreaking your old Kindle could genuinely help keep it useful, but it's not without potential problems. Not least because jailbreaking breaks Amazon's terms of service, which means the company could cut off your access to its services entirely.
Yes, that means you could permanently lose every single book and piece of digital content that's linked to your Amazon account. If you're a longtime Amazon Prime subscriber or have an extensive collection of albums, books, TV shows, or films bought digitally from Amazon's storefront, this is a very serious consequence to consider.
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Which Kindle e-readers will be impacted by end of support deadline?
- Kindle (1st generation)
- Kindle (2nd generation)
- Kindle DX
- Kindle DX Graphite
- Kindle Keyboard
- Kindle 4
- Kindle Touch
- Kindle 5
- Kindle Paperwhite (1st generation)
- Kindle Fire (1st generation)
- Kindle Fire (2nd generation)
- Kindle Fire HD 7
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9
There's another immediate danger that's even more worrying. You could end up bricking your Kindle completely.
Installing unauthorised software and firmware can damage the device's safety features. This might cause security problems, total system failure, or turn your e-reader into a useless block that simply won't switch on anymore.
That said, if you're still keen to go ahead with jailbreaking, there are ways to minimise the risks.
Users on social news website Reddit reckon the danger of bricking your device is actually quite low if you stick to trusted jailbreak tools and follow every instruction exactly as written. The key thing is not to get creative during the process. Don't attempt any additional tweaks or hacks beyond what the standard instructions tell you to do.
One member of the Kindle Modding Community on Discord has admitted they bricked their device after trying a hack that wasn't part of the normal jailbreaking procedure. Stick to the script and do your homework properly, and it's entirely possible to jailbreak safely.
Once you've successfully jailbroken your Kindle, a whole world of customisation opens up. You can install personalised screensavers, different fonts, and homemade applications that would never work on a standard device.
One popular choice is KOReader, a reading app that handles loads of different file types. It'll work with EPUB, PDF, and plenty of other formats that Amazon's software simply won't touch. This frees you from Amazon's walled garden completely. You can source ebooks from all sorts of places and build up your own library without being tied to the Kindle Store's restrictions.
For those who were just cut off from the Kindle Store, this means you can get back to reading.
The first-generation Kindle Paperwhite, which introduced a backlight to the e-reader lineup, will be dropped from software support
|AMAZON PRESS OFFICE
Amazon halted software support for affected devices from May 20, 2026. Following that deadline, older Kindle e-readers – like the Kindle 5 or the first-generation Kindle Paperwhite – lost the ability to purchase, download, or borrow books. Anything that's already in your library will still be accessible. But that's it.
In total, Amazon has narrowed it down to 12x models that will be dropped from future software updates, including the original Kindle launched back in 2007, the Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch, Kindle 5, and the first-generation Paperwhite.
Several Kindle Fire tablets — Amazon's affordable answer to the iPad — will also be impacted by this shake-up, including the first and second generation models and the Fire HD 7 and 8.9 variants.
The oiriginal announcement triggered anger from Kindle owners, who view their still-functioning devices as victims of planned obsolescence – the concept of deliberately making consumer products unusable so customers replace them with a newer models, often achieved by frequent design changes, cutting off spare part supplies, use of non-durable materials, or slowing down hardware with new software, or ending firmware support entirely.
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Kindle owners have flooded social media to describe the shake-up as "a hostile act of predatory capitalism" and "a nightmare". On X, formerly Twitter, one Kindle owner posted: "I have a Kindle Touch that I've had since 2013, it works great, I bought a book on it a few months ago, and suddenly it's obsolete."
Another complained: "A Kindle is a text device! There is no need for updates."
Discussion on Reddit framed the change as creating needless electronic waste from devices that remain fully functional. Some users indicated they would abandon Amazon's ecosystem entirely, considering alternatives such as Kobo instead.
Whilst your ability to access the Kindle Store directly will end, your existing library and account remain intact. You will retain access to all previously downloaded books on the device itself, and your complete Kindle Library can still be viewed through Amazon's mobile application or web browser.
Amazon stated the change affects approximately 3% of its current user base. The company emphasised that newer devices bring improvements in screen quality, performance and accessibility, whilst maintaining full access to the Kindle Store. For Fire tablet owners, the restrictions differ slightly. You will lose purchasing and downloading capabilities, but other services on those tablets will continue functioning normally.
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The environmental impact of the decision has drawn criticism from campaigners who advocate for electronic repair and reuse. Ugo Vallauri, co-director of the Restart Project, acknowledged that manufacturers routinely tout performance improvements when withdrawing support from older products.
"However, that's hardly a good reason for soft-bricking millions of still functioning devices," he stated.
Whilst Amazon maintains the change touches only 3% of active users, Vallauri warned this percentage could translate to approximately two million devices becoming obsolete. The Restart Project estimates suggest this mass discontinuation could generate more than 624 tonnes of electronic waste.
Your device, though still capable of displaying text, faces potential disposal purely due to software limitations rather than hardware failure. Amazon has defended the withdrawal, noting these models have received support spanning 14 to 18 years, during which technology has advanced considerably.
A spokesperson for the Seattle-based retailer said: "Starting May 20, 2026, customers using Kindle and Kindle Fire devices released in 2012 and earlier will no longer be able to purchase, borrow, or download new content via the Kindle Store.
"These models have been supported for at least 14 years — some as long as 18 years — but technology has come a long way in that time, and these devices will no longer be supported moving forward. We are notifying those still actively using them and offering promotions to help with the transition to newer devices. Their accounts and Kindle Library also remain fully accessible through the free Kindle app and Kindle for Web."
To assist with upgrading, you will receive promotional offers, including 20% off selected new Kindles and eBook credits if you purchase by June 20, 2026.
Your account and library remain fully accessible via the free Kindle application and web interface.